Color my world....

.....today is one of those days that I did not feel like doing much.  I was behind on paperwork and ended up spending my morning paying bills, balancing the checkbooks and catching up on phone calls...all that boring business like stuff that is never fun.

   I'm also kind of tired again, but had two great days, so I'm not about to complain.  I decided that this afternoon I would take it easy and one of my favorite ways to relax is to color.  I have loved colored ever since I was a child and it's another reason that I LOVE card-making, because of the all the wonderful stamps and images that you can color.  I started by printing out a few cute little digi images and these all happen to from By Lori Designs.   These are the type that always make me smile and I wanted to make some fun -- happy cards.

   My first card was inspired by a new challenge today at Crafting by Designs and it's a BLUE challenge.  You can use blue in anyway, as long as your project has some blue in it.   This is the card that I created for the BLUE challenge and instead of simply coloring everything blue, I paper-pieced on some cute blue digi papers for her little dress and hair bow. 

      Once I had started coloring, I actually colored three different cuties, not knowing exactly which one I would use.  I also ended up putting together two more cards.  This first one is going to be submitted to the new Challenge # 24  at By Lori Designs and they theme is "Hearts".  I think the sentiment makes it perfect and it's a sentiment I LOVE.

    
      And this is the third card I put together and it's a kind of Fun in the Sun card!  I can't wait for Warm Summer Days to come. 

    I also have one card to share that I created for two new challenge.   The first was the new Twisted Thursday Challenge over at The Outlawz.     As it turns out, I also thought it would be a nice CAS style card and have also submitted it to the new challenge over at Through The Craftroom Door.  Their challenge is currently a CAS theme, with a Sentiment.    

       As you can see, I'm very much into the fun colors of Spring and was really getting burnt out of all the Red and Pink cards I had made for Valentine's.  It's nice to be onto a new season soon and since Spring and Summer are my favorite seasons, I love the change.  

        Oh and I also made my very first two ATC's, which were inspired by a brand new challenge and new group that just opened up over the Suzanne Dean's Color Me Creative Classroom.   The newest group is a Mixed Media/Altered Art Group and Marti (Wills), has challenged us all to create an ATC (Artist Trading Card), using paint, in any way.   I am really excited about the new group and learning a lot more about this fun technique.    It's gong to be awesome to take a class from Marti, when head down to Baltimore for The Outlawz Rodeo (Getaway Weekend).   If you have not already read about it, both Marti and Suzanne will be offering classes that weekend and I'm so excited to be signed up to take one form each of these awesome designers.
 
     If you want to come along for the weekend, then hope on over to The Outlawz Group for all the details.   If you would like to take a class with Marti, you can find the sign-up HERE on here blog.   And, if you are like me and want to also take a Copic Class with Suzanne, you'll find her sign-ups on her 'On the Road' website, which is HERE!!    This is going to be such a great weekend and I'm beyond thrilled to not only be taking these classes, but to also be meeting some of my very best craft friends.   YIPPEE!!!

      Ooops...!!  Okay....I went a little off track there, but that's simply my excitement about this fun-filled trip that I can't wait to go on!  .....

     Now back to my ATC's, you'll quickly see that I have a LOT to learn, but it was FUN trying something totally new.   I found that I had a couple ATC's in my Stash and I did my first one on a White Glossy base and the second was done on a Black Mat-board.  Both are the standard ATC Size, which I learned is 2 1/2" X 3 1/2", which is also the same size as a stand card from a deck of cards or a baseball card.  Many crafters create amazing ATC's and the idea is to actually trade them, hence the name -Artist Trading Cards!   I learned a lot from watching some videos on YouTube and simply by doing a Google search, there is a lot more to learn, but I think it's very interesting and I always LOVE to try and learn new things. 

 

   The first ATC was colored primarily with Alcohol inks and Distress inks and then I added on a little bling, a little heart, flowers and some ric-rac.   On the second one, I started by using White Ranger Dabber Paint and a background stamp, I then added in some distress inks for more color, but they are not showing so well in this picture.  I then cut heart out of a fabric scrap and glued that on with Glossy Accents.  I finished that one off with some sequin trim and a little flower.   Like is said, I still have a LOT of learn!   LOL!!  
 
   Well....that's going to be it for today!   I hope you are having a super day and that everyone has a nice long weekend.   I'm looking forward to more time in my craft room and also maybe a little shopping !!